Studies of air pollution: methane

Owned by Maiwenn Herpe
Last updated: Jun 24, 2021 by Frederika Mourot
2 min read

Satellite(s)

 

e.g., Sentinel-5P.

Monitoring element

Absorption of trace gases in the backscattered radiation.

Satellite(s)

 

e.g., Sentinel-5P.

Monitoring element

Absorption of trace gases in the backscattered radiation.

Description technique

Lorente et al. (2021) provide a validation study and describe the importance of methane as a greenhouse gas and the relevance of satellite data to constrain modelled estimates.

Accuracy / Resolution

5km x 5km (approx.).

Case study

  • Lorente et al. (2021) used ground-observed data from the Lauder station to validate satellite-derived methane concentrations.

  • Barre et al. (2021) show potential for the systematic detection of anthropogenic CH4 point and local source emissions relative to known emissions inventory data using TROPOMI* satellite measurements in combination with high resolution CH4 forecasts.

Benefits

  • Daily

  • Data freely available.

Limitations

  • Steep learning curve for a non-expert, e.g., using the Google Earth Engine requires some investment in time.

Applicability for Northland

Uncertain.

Generally low concentrations for New Zealand, compared to global hotspots.

Publication references

Lorente, A., Borsdorff, T., Butz, A., Hasekamp, O., aan de Brugh, J., Schneider, A., Wu, L., Hase, F., Kivi, R., Wunch, D., Pollard, D. F., Shiomi, K., Deutscher, N. M., Velazco, V. A., Roehl, C. M., Wennberg, P. O., Warneke, T., and Landgraf, J. 2021.: Methane retrieved from TROPOMI: improvement of the data product and validation of the first 2 years of measurements, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 665–684.

https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/14/665/2021/amt-14-665-2021.html

Barré J, Aben I, Agusti-Panareda A, Balsamo G, Bousserez N, Düben P, Engelen R, Inness A, Lorente A, McNorton J, et al. 2021. Systematic detection of local CH4 anomalies by combining satellite measurements with high-resolution forecasts. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 21:5117-5136. doi:10.5194/acp-21-5117-2021.

https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/21/5117/2021/acp-21-5117-2021-discussion.html

Other comments or information

NRT: 2018 - current.

*Sentinel-5P's instrument called Tropomi (TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument) is a spectrometer sensing ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), near (NIR) and short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) to monitor ozone, methane, formaldehyde, aerosol, carbon monoxide, NO2 and SO2 in the atmosphere.

https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/catalog/COPERNICUS_S5P_OFFL_L3_CH4